New Richmond Village Council members are considering a cemetery levy for the May 6 election. Cemeteries including Greenmound Cemetery in the village are in need of road and other maintenance, according to the cemetery board.

By Kristin RoverSun staff

New Richmond Village Council members are considering a cemetery levy for the May 6 primary election.

Council members had a second reading of legislation requesting numbers from the auditor’s office at their Dec. 10 meeting.

Mayor Ramona Carr said the 1 mill levy will provide funds for cemetery maintenance in the village.

She said they do not have the money in the general fund to make many repairs needed in the cemeteries so they have continued to deteriorate.

“It is very sad,” Carr said.

Cemetery board member Donna Hammons said the cemeteries in the village need a lot of attention including road repairs, tree removals, repairs to a vault at Greenmound Cemetery, and surveying work.

Hammons said they have been receiving criticism of the condition of the cemeteries and they are hoping to be able to make the needed repairs.

“We know our deceased family and friends are there,” Hammons said. “It is hallowed ground, and cemeteries are also for the living, visitors get a sense of peace and calm there.”

Hammons they are hoping the 1 mill, five-year levy will be all they need.

“We are sincerely hoping,” she said. “We are only asking 1 mill for five years and are hoping that gives us enough to get all of the major things accomplished and that would be it.”

Councilman Richard Hilt said 1 mill levy would bring in approximately $35,000 for the cemeteries.

Carr said the first reading and discussion about the cemetery levy was during the Nov. 27 council meeting.

During the meeting the cemetery board, including chairman Bill Marsh, requested council members consider adding the levy to the ballot in May.

Hammons said they are working on the first step of the process to get the levy on the ballot, which she said is submitting legislation to the county auditor’s office.

“The auditor will tell us how much we will get (from the levy),” Hammons said. “The second part will be putting it on the ballot.”

Hammons said council members will have to approve the levy and have it to the board of elections by Feb. 5 for it to be placed on the May 6 election.